Anna Arts Center planning wide range of events in coming weeks

The Anna Arts Center in Anna has a busy schedule of events on the calendar in coming weeks.

Fire Station Haunted  House of Horrors

The Fire Station Haunted House of Horrors is open every Friday and Saturday in October and on Halloween night from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Anna Arts Center at 125 W. Davie St. in Anna.   

Admission is $5 per person or groups of six for $20. All proceeds will be split between the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School Theater Boosters and the Anna Arts Center for their programs.

New Writing Program Planned

The Shawnee Hills Arts Council plans to initiate a new writing program beginning with an organizational meeting at the Anna Arts Center’s Old City Hall Building at 117 W. Davie St. in Anna on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m.

The coordinator of the program is Phillip Egelston, the arts council’s advisor on creative writing and visual arts.  

The program will focus primarily on fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.  

All writers or persons interested in writing are invited to attend.  

Three main projects have been initially proposed.  The first of these will be an informal writing group to be structured based on interests, experience and desires of  the participants.  

A regular series titled “Entrances and Introductions” will involve public readings by authors as well as short presentations on the work of recognized writers and on the craft of writing.  

A third long-term project will be the production of a print and/or online anthology of poetry, personal essays, short fiction, art and photography.

The public is invited to submit their ideas or refer questions to Lee Hackney, Anna Arts Center director, at email vabchlee@gmail.com or by calling cell phone: 1-904-625-1109.  They also may contact Phil Egelston at gsbjr@frontier.com or by phoning 1-618-833-2862.

Veteran’s Day Salute, Monday, Nov 4

The Anna Arts Center plans to salute all veterans and active duty men and women on Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at 117 W. Davie St., Anna.

It is a dinner and show featuring the Crystal Davis, the Pitch Catchers Barbershop Quartet (Ray Bush, Bob Fuller, Al Terry, and Norm Bauer) and LaShanna Pinnon.   

VFW Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 will present the colors and other traditions will be observed.

Veterans and active duty are free and all others are requested to donate $10. Anna Arts Center invites everyone to attend this event and salute our veterans.

A World War II exhibit continues to be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon through Nov. 5.

Also, as part of the celebration, the arts center would like to display pictures and stories of veterans and active duty members.

Information about veterans or active duty military personnel can be brought to the arts center Oct. 28-31 from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, call Lee Hackney’s cell at 904-625-1109 for more information.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

The arts center plans to present a staged reading of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  

The performance is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 9.

The staged reading will be performed to raise money for the arts centers first children’s theater production, “Aladdin, Jr.,” which is planned in March 2014.

Admission to the staged reading will be by donation only.  

Two rehearsals are planned on the Thursday and Friday before the show.  

For more information, contact director Joey Johnson by email at joeyaj08@gmail.com or by phone at 618-534-7026.

A Celebration of Joseph and Mary’s Journey to Bethlehem

The Anna Arts Center plans to present a Las Posadas event on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m.

Las Posadas was originally a tradition that began in Spain and has spread throughout the world. It celebrates Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter prior to the birth of Christ.  

The event will be a Christmas celebration with a skit, a procession, piñatas and refreshments.

As part of the celebration, the arts center is having a piñata contest. It is free to enter. The piñata can be of any design. The winner will receive a ribbon and colaciones (box of sweets).  

Piñatas for the contest can be brought to the Anna Arts Center, 117 W. Davie St., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon by no later than Nov. 21.

The arts center is looking for children to participate in the skit who are 4 years old and older.

Rehearsals are scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Anna Arts Center. Rehearsals are planned Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m. after Oct. 21.

For more information, contact Lee’s cell 904-625-1109 or email vabchlee@gmail.com.

Anna Arts Center’s Holiday Bazaar

As part of the Downtown Anna Christmas celebration, the boliday bazaar is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Anna Arts Center, 117 W. Davie St.

There are a few spaces left for artists or crafters. The cost is $25 per space.

Mail the following information to the Anna Arts Center, 125 W. Davie St., Anna, Ill. 62906: Name, address, phone and email. Make checks out to the Anna Arts Center.

For more information, call Lee’s cell 904-625-1109 or email vabchlee@gmail.com.